Elimination Diets Explained

We get lots of questions from Moms (and Dads) about elimination diets. Today we would like to help address some of those questions.

What is an elimination diet?

Elimination diet is strict removal of certain foods from the diet. Often based on allergy tests or removal of one or more of the top food allergens seen in children: milk, soy, egg, nut (tree nut and peanut), wheat, and fish or shellfish. Elemental formula such as Neocate may be used to supplement the restricted diet to meet all nutritional needs.

What am I going to feed/eat on an elimination diet?

If your child is fed an amino acid-based formula, you won’t need to worry about eliminating anything from your diet. However, if you choose to breastfeed, you will need to follow an elimination diet and remove all milk and soy protein from your diet.

For your reference, here is a list of the basic foods that may contain dairy or soy protein that you should avoid when on the elimination diet:

All dairy and soy products

Meat/processed meats

Whey or Casein on the label

Nutrition bars

Glazes

Lactose-free products

Chocolate

Fortified cereals

Non-broth (cream) soup

Cheese/Yogurt

Salad dressing

These are just some things to look out for when implementing an elimination diet. Of course, if you feel the need to supplement your baby’s diet or if the elimination diet is compromised, an amino acid-based formula is always a great option. And, as always, please speak with a registered dietitian or your pediatrician before starting the elimination diet.

Also, for more elimination diet information and resources check out some of our previous blog entries:

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